A report published on 27 October 2023 mentioned that West African countries, which are full of unexploited irrigable land, are in a position to significantly increase their rice production.

The report, entitled “More than ever, West Africa needs to boost its rice production” mentioned that West African countries could significantly increase their rice production if they manage to apply tariffs that reconcile the interests of producers and those consumers, to improve local rice marketing and to strengthen technical and financial support for smallholders. According to the report, the region's rice market is by far the largest in the continent in terms of consumption, with nearly 20 million tons of rice absorbed every

Five countries in West Africa alone (Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal) consumed nearly 16.8 million tons of rice during the year 2021/2022, representing 45% of the total volume absorbed in sub-Saharan Africa.